The Girl with 500 Middle Names

Title: The Girl with 500 Middle Names
Author: Margaret Peterson Haddix
Author Study

     This is one of Margaret Peterson Haddix's first books for younger children.  It is a quick easy read but send a great message.  The story is about a third grader named Janie.  Janie's family is not very well off financially and she goes to a school that is falling apart, the kids beat each other up, and the teachers don't seem to care about their students or their grammar.  As soon as Janie's mother realizes this, she does everything she can to get Janie into a better school.  She works her but off working as a secretary and knitting specialty sweaters on the side.  After about a year the family is finally able to move to a small apartment where Janie can go to a new big school.  Janie is excited but she quickly realizes she doesn't fit in.  All the kids have brand new clothes everyday and have a lot more money.  When a financial crisis arises in the family to set them back, Janie must make some bold steps to help out her family and show everyone just how much her parents love her.  She takes a hand-me-down coat from a friend and wears her mother's unsold sweaters with other girls' names on them.  Though it is difficult, in the process Janie gains new friends, starts a trend, and inspires her mother to be brave and go for her dreams.  This is a great book for elementary students so they can try to understand the saying Janie's dad told her which she had to figure out to; that money isn't everything.  This is a short chapter book to get kids reading and there are a few pictures along the way to help support their reading skills.